3-4 September 2025
Prague, Czech Republic
Specialty Papers 2025 is taking place on 3-4 September 2025 in Prague, Czech Republic as part of Smithers Paper Week 2025
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Born in the UK, educated in Rhodesia and South Africa, Stephen Harrod spent eleven years building a market research company in South Africa, focussed on the paper and packaging industry in that country, following which he spent six years in the paper industry with Mondi and JAC Labels before relocating to England. He has been consulting on ad-hoc projects and authoring reports for Smithers since 2006, with a focus on global paper and packaging markets. Stephen is responsible for a range of Smithers market reports including the Global Corrugated Market, the Global Folding Carton Market, Retail Ready Packaging, Liquid Packaging Board, Sustainable E-Commerce Packaging and many others.
Brian Butka is a seasoned packaging professional with nearly 15 years of experience in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry. He holds a degree in Packaging from Michigan State Uni-versity and has developed a broad skill set across logistics, warehousing, contract manufacturing, packaging development, sustainability, and innovation.
Brian currently serves in a key packaging development role at Barilla, the world's largest pasta pro-ducer and an Italian multinational food company founded in 1877. He began his journey with Baril-la in its North American office in Chicago, IL, and in 2023, he transitioned to the company’s global headquarters in Parma, Italy.
In his current role, Brian leads innovative packaging initiatives with a strong focus on sustainability. He is at the forefront of Barilla’s efforts to reduce plastic usage and enhance packaging recyclability, ensuring compliance with both local and international regulations. His cross-functional expertise and global perspective continue to drive impactful change within the company and the broader packaging industry.
Eliisa Ranta, Director at Vision Hunters Ltd Oy, has over 15 years management consulting experi-ence from the global bio-based industries. With her background in forestry, she has solid under-standing of the P&P industry value chain from forest to end use applications. In her current role, she provides strategic advisory for the clientele within the P&P value chain.
Kiril Dimitrov is a Chemical Engineer by education with over 20 years of extensive experience in the field of packaging development and materials innovation. Professional career across the entire packaging supply chain, working for some of the leading paper and packaging manufacturers and recyclers, with many years in Food manufacturing and retail.
With specific focus in flexible packaging technologies and interest in paper materials, Kiril is currently a Flexible Packaging Lead at Nestlé’s Central Product Technology & Development Department based in Vevey, Switzerland, leading Nestlé’s global flexible packaging R&D portfolio.
Jenni currently holds a position as Paper Packaging Specialist at Nestlé Institution of Packaging Science where she is responsible for developing new sustainable fiber-based packaging materials and concepts. Her work combines her roots and passion for paper as well as for the circular economy.
Prior to joining Nestlé Jenni worked for over 10 years in the paper, printing and converting industry. She has a M.Sc in Forest Products Technology (Chemistry and Technology of Pulp and Paper Making) from Helsinki University of Technology, Finland
Laura Smith drives the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s work on exploring sustainable paper-based alternatives to plastic flexibles, focusing on high-leakage markets. The Foundation brings together key stakeholders across the globe to work together to unlock solutions to plastic pollution. Through the Global Commitment - uniting over 1000 businesses, governments, NGOs, and investors behind a common vision of a circular economy - the Foundation identified and is tackling pivotal hurdles to addressing plastic waste and pollution where collective action is critical. Prior to joining the Foundation, she worked with circular businesses in India to develop innovative tools to measure environmental impact and previously worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company, where she focused on Net Zero strategies.
Janet Preston has worked in IMERYS Minerals for over 30 years in the areas of
coatings and minerals research, including paper coating, paper filling, paints and inks
and in printing science.
Whilst working at Imerys Janet graduated from University of Plymouth with an
honours degree in Applied Chemistry. She then gained a PhD in Chemistry with the
Interface Analysis Centre, University of Bristol, where she studied ink and coated
paper interactions. Janet has around 100 publications in this area. She is currently a
senior technical support specialist & scientist in the company’s Paper & Board group
and is working in the area of paper, board, pulp & printing.
In 2007 Janet was appointed as an Adjunct Professor (Docent) at Abo Akademi
University in Finland. She is a Chartered Chemist & Member of the Royal Society of
Chemistry.
Jenni currently holds a position as Paper Packaging Specialist at Nestlé Institution of Packaging Science where she is responsible for developing new sustainable fiber-based packaging materials and concepts. Her work combines her roots and passion for paper as well as for the circular economy.
Prior to joining Nestlé Jenni worked for over 10 years in the paper, printing and converting industry. She has a M.Sc in Forest Products Technology (Chemistry and Technology of Pulp and Paper Making) from Helsinki University of Technology, Finland
Dr. David Guerin is Master Scientist at L’Oréal’s Packaging Science Center. He is in charge of identifying new materials, technologies and partners that could bridge the performance gap between L’Oréal’s packaging needs and the current fibre-based packaging solutions. Before joining l’Oréal in 2021, David was leading the Functional Surfaces team of Centre Technique du Papier (CTP). David has more than 25 years of experience in the field of paper and paper packaging materials supported by an education background and a PhD in paper processing and material sciences from Grenoble INP.
Alexey Vishtal is working at Mayr-Melnhof Group and is responsible for new barrier fibre-based packaging materials development. Before joining MM Alexey was for 7 year with Nestlé in Switzerland leading development of recyclable fibre-based packaging, and before that he held various positions in paper and related industries. Alexey has a paper engineering background and also has doctoral degree in paper physics and converting.
Martti Toivakka is currently a full professor and head of the Laboratory of Paper Coating and Converting at Åbo Akademi University, Finland (www.abo.fi/lpcc). He received his doctoral degree in chemical engineering in the area of paper chemistry in 1998. His research group is a member of the Academy of Finland appointed Center of Excellence for Functional Materials, which develops functional materials and demonstrates devices for printed intelligence. His research interests include novel coating and surface treatment methods for natural fiber-based products, printing as a fabrication method and use of paper as a substrate for printed electronics. He has (co-)authored over 140 peer-reviewed scientific publications and is currently the guest editor of Chemical Engineering and Processing – special issue of Coating and Drying of Thin Films. He has organized and been the chairman of 2006 TAPPI Advanced Coating Fundamentals Symposium and the 2011 European Coating Symposium, both held in Turku, Finland. Furthermore, he has arranged numerous international short courses for industrial professionals and doctoral level students, the recent ones being Coating and Drying of Thin Films – Fundamentals & Applications with a Special Topic on Printed and Organic Electronics in 2011, Pigment Coating Technology in 2012, and Advanced Printing Technology in 2014.
More than 30 years experience in pulp and paper industry, both in end-user, production and supplier environment, I have a passion for papermaking and process control, as well as understanding the drivers along the value chain of paper products.
Currently holding a European marketing position for Board & Packaging at Nalco Water, closely mixed with technical development, brings me close to paper mills addressing needs in paper products as well as operational challenges and restrictions.
Living in Sweden
